Being a pet parent, especially if you have a cat, you must have noticed that your feline friend loves to sleep at the foot of the bed.
So you must be wondering and asking yourself this puzzling question: Why do cats sleep at the foot of the bed?
At night, when you all go to sleep, your feline friend chooses to sleep at the foot of the bed when there is plenty of room or other more comfortable places for them to sleep. This is one of those peculiar behaviors that some cats have.
Personally I have one cat that I chose to call Fluffy because, well she truly is adorably fluffy and one thing I noticed from the day I brought her home is that she prefers sleeping at the foot of my bed and wouldn’t sleep anywhere else!
I know this might not be strange to some of you cat owners and I have done a little bit of homework and spoken with a number of cat owners who have also noticed the same thing!
After analyzing and doing research on why cats like sleeping at the foot of the bed at night, here are a few of my findings.
1. Cats sleep at the foot of the bed to get a better visibility of the door
I had a lengthy discussion with one of my friends who is actually a pet behavioral therapist and she told me that possibly, one of the reasons why cats love sleeping at the foot of the bed is to get a better visibility of the door.
Naturally, cats have a tendency to like sleeping at places where they feel secure and safe. This is just part of their survival instincts.
It also applies to our domesticated kitties. When your cat is able to see the entrance and bedroom exit, they tend to feel more secure.
I therefore went back home and I couldn’t help but notice that the foot of my bed rested near the door. I asked other friends who are also cat owners and they confirmed the same about the position of their beds.
The bedroom layout was arranged in such a manner that the foot of the bed rested near the door. That is probably one of the reasons my Fluffy loves to sleep at the foot of my bed!
2. Cats sleep at the foot of the bed where they get less disturbed
Most cats are generally deemed to be lazy and they naturally hate being disturbed, especially when they are sleeping.
Being very intelligent creatures, cats know that when they sleep at the bottom of the bed, they will get less disturbed than at the top.
This might be true to some extent and not unless you fidget a lot when you sleep or have a disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome, your cat will always prefer to lie on top of the bed right at the foot.
It is also just common sense that it seems a lot safer being near the legs as compared to a heavy torso and arms moving around at night.
Cats also love to sleep at the foot of the bed because as we already mentioned, of their survival instincts. Your cat knows that they should be able to escape or flee in case of any danger and this is made easier when they sleep at the foot of the bed than at the top.
3. Cats sleep at the foot of the bed where there is more room
Your cat is just being smart by preferring to sleep at the bottom of the bed where he knows there is more room than at the top.
In most cases there is plenty of room at the foot of the bed with only two feet or four to fight for with space than at the top.
Most people’s feet do not touch the bottom of the bed hence there is more room for your cat to nap undisturbed than when he sleeps with you at the top of the bed.
Cats prefer to sleep at the foot of the bed where they can stretch as they please and curl up whenever they wish.
I hope it all makes sense so far, just think of it, more space, less disturbance and sure security! That is why the bottom of the bed looks more appealing than the top.
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4. Cats sleep at the foot of the bed to mark their territory
Many times, when cats tend to prefer to sleep near their owners is so that they can mark their territory.
You may have noticed that your cat may choose to sleep in your bed near your feet and mostly by the person they prefer.
This is a positive thing and you need to understand that even though it may seem annoying at times, it is a show of the affection that your cat has for you.
They love you too much to allow you to be part of their secure and private space. This is just one of the quirks of being a cat parent.
If you do not have a cat it might be difficult to understand but there is a certain joy of being “owned” by your cat.
5. Cats sleep at the foot of the bed to watch over you
Essentially, having your cat sleeping at the foot of the bed is something that shows that your cat loves you and is actually keeping watch over you.
Even when you have your spouse, you may have noticed that your feline friend loves to sleep near one of you than the other.
It is a very clear indication of whom your cat is fond of than the other but don’t be jealous of the other person.
It is simple, if you want to win your cat over, make sure that you are the one who shows more attention, gives them their treats or food and generally fusses over them the most.
It may sound a little fickle but well, there is nothing wrong in putting on some little effort to get the attention of your feline friend.
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What message is your cat trying to pass across by positioning himself at the foot of the bed?
I know it can be quite annoying when your cat just doesn’t insist on sleeping at the foot of your bed but also insists on sleeping at your very feet.
I get this all the time with Fluffy so I know what I am talking about. Well there are two sides to every coin, meaning there is the good and also the flip side to it.
The good news is that your cat is simply trying to convey his message of affection towards you as his owner. It is a good sign of affection and trust.
Your feline friend is trying to communicate just how comfortable they are with you and being around you. In fact, you need to start being appreciative and take it positively as a compliment.
The bad news is that it actually feels restrictive. This especially true if your cat not only likes to sleep at the foot of your bed but at your very feet.
If you are one of those people who like to move their feet around at night, it may be restrictive of your cat denies you this kind of freedom.
What really can you do about your cat’s love of sleeping at your feet without offending your feline friend?
You must be wondering whether there is something you can do about your cat’s behavior of sleeping at the foot of your bed at night without offending him.
Generally, cats hate to be disturbed, especially when they are having their peaceful siesta.
In my whole life, I am yet to meet a cat that loves to be disturbed when asleep. Most often than not, there are hardly any cats that will take it lightly when you disrupt their sleep.
How then do you seal with this without causing any friction between you and your feline friend?
You may consider placing a soft pillow or just something rolled up at your feet. Wait until your kitty falls asleep and switch to your pillow. This might be a little bit hard if your cat is clever enough to know what is going on.
There are cats that will immediately wake up when you dare to do such a thing as to remove your feet. They will wake up and quickly shuffle over to where you have moved your feet.
You can also train your cat to sleep in the sleeping basket if you have one. Fill it with cozy blankets or your cat’s favorite rug. Make sure it is comfortable and warm enough.
You may choose to place it near the door, bearing in mind that cats have their own survival instincts to be ready to flee in case of danger.
This kind of training should begin from the day you bring your pet home. It will be pretty confusing to have your cat sleep on your bed on one occasion and in the sleeping basket on another.
Be consistent in your training to also avoid confusion and setting double standards. You can put some of your cat’s favorite treats in his sleeping basket to lure and entice him to sleep in it.
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My Final Thoughts
I am hopeful that some of the reasons and explanations that I have given in this article help you to understand why your cat likes to sleep at the foot of the bed.
In a nutshell, your cat loves to sleep at your feet for the following reasons:
1. To get better visibility of the door. Your cat needs to sleep somewhere they feel safe, this is just part of their natural survival instincts.
2. Your cat gets less disturbed at the foot of the bed than at the top. Cats hate being disturbed when they are enjoying their nap.
3. According to your feline friend, what better way to get a peaceful night’s sleep than sleeping at the bottom of the bed where it is also less crowded?
4. There is more room at the bottom of the bed than at the top. Your clever cat knows this fact and that is why he will always insist on sleeping at the foot of the bed.
5. Your cat is just being territorial, which is quite natural of him. Your cat is simply claiming his territory and by him allowing you to sleep by them is a great way of showing their affection towards you.
On the flip side, it might be quite annoying to always have a ball of fur at your feet. You may want to get him his own sleeping basket or a soft pillow at the foot of your bed.
6. Your cat is simply watching over you as you sleep. It is a way of showing their love for you as well.
In conclusion, you need to always bear in your mind that cats have their own personalities and behavioral traits.
Each cat is unique and different though you may notice that there are similar tendencies and behaviors they have and sleeping at the foot of the bed as we have seen is one of them.
Therefore, what I am trying to pass across is this, as your cat’s owner, equal or whatever way they perceive us, it still remains your job to work around your feline friend.
If your cat loves sleeping at your foot or at the foot of your bed, then that is just how it is between the two of you. Let him be and try to make him as comfortable as you can.
Get him a soft pillow, cozy rugs or his favorite blanket and let your feline friend enjoy his sleep uninterrupted.
Just the same way you wouldn’t like to get disturbed when you rest after a long day at work is probably the same way your cat prefers to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet.
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